Arch support



J. D. PALM ARCH SUPPORT Dec. 9, 1924- v fao" Filed Feb. 25 y Patented Dec. 9, 1924.

UNITED STATES JOI-IN D. PALM, OF BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ARCH SUPPORT.

Application filed February 25, 1924. Serial No. 694,865.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN D. PALM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brockton, in the county of Plymouth and 5 State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Arch Supports, of which the following' is a specification.

The object o-f this invention is to provide an arch support adapted to be applied as a band or girdle to a human foot, and to properly support the anterior and posterior arches thereof, and correct various misplacements of said arches.

This object is attained by the improved construction hereinafter described and claimed.

Of the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,-

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an arch support embodying the invention, removed from the foot.

Figure 2 is a view similar to a portion of Figure 1, showing the forward cushion differently adjusted.

Figure 3 is asectio-n on line 8-3 of Figure 1.

Figure t is a section on line 1 -4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a top plan view, showing` the il() support in place on a foot.

Figure 6 is a plan view of one of the cushions hereinafter described.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the figures. :a5 My improved support includes a flexible pad, formed to cover the: bottom of that portion of a foot which includes the anterior and posterior arches, the usual location of the central port-ion of the anterior arch being indicated by the letter A, and that of the central portion of the posterior arch by the letter l?, in Figure 5.

The pad is preferably composed of two layers 12., 12 of flexible leather, connected f by stitches 13, at their edge portions, and elsewhere free from connection with each other, so that pockets are provided between the layers for the reception of the cushions hereinafter described. One of said pockets is in the forward end portion of the pad, and is adapted to receive a forward cushion, indicated as a whole by 14. The other pocket is in the rear end portion of the pad, and is adapted to receive a rear cushion, indica-,ted as a whole by 15, Each cushion is preferably composed of a body 16, of leather. skived at its margin, and a facing 17, of felt, as shown by Figure 6, which shows the forward cushion separately. The rear cushion is of similar construction, but of dif ferent shape.

The pad is provided with two upturned flexible ears 18 and 19, and with means connecting said ears to form a band or girdle, adapted to encircle the instep portion of the foot, said means being preferably a strip 20 of elastic webbing, stitched at its ends to connect said ears. lVhen the pad is in use, the strip 201 extends across and closely lits the instep portion of the foot, the arrangement being such that the cushions 14 and 1.5 are held by the pad in predetermined positions under the anterior and posterior arches.

The inner ear 18 is caused by the contraction of the strip 2O to closely conform to the inner side of that port-ion of the foot which includes the inside longitudinal arch, the general location of which is indicated by the curved broken lines I in Figure 5. The

outer ear v19 is caused by the contraction of the strip 2O to closely conform to the outer side of said foot portion.

The cushions 14 and 15 are preferably adjustable in the pockets in which they are contained, so that the position of either cushion may be varied as occasion may require, the cushions being retained in any adjusted positions by the frictional contact of the pad layers 12 therewith, or otherwise.

The stitches 13 are preferably arranged to leave the mouths of the pad-receiving pockets open, as indicated at 22, in Figures 2 and 3, so that the cushions may be freely inserted and removed, and either cushion may be caused to project more or less from the margin of the pad.

Figure 2 shows the cushion ist partially projected from the forward end of the. pad; The cushion. may be similarly projected from the rear end of the pad. Each cushion may be adjusted crosswise of the pad.

The elastic strip 20 is preferably provided with a lining piece 23, of thin smooth surfaced leather, or other suitable material, arranged to be interposed betwen the strip and the instep portion of the foot. The lining is attached at its midlength portion to the midlength portion of the strip 20, by stitches 24;, so that the lining piece has free end portions adapted to bear on the Wearers stocking Without affecting the elasticity of the strip.

I call the described device a corrective support.

The lining piece is preferably composed ot Wax cured leather, its inner surface being the grain surface of the piece of leather, which has been treated with The lining piece therefore has a smooth antiitrictional inner surface adapted to slide on the stocking when thel device is being located on the 'foo-t. The object of the lining piece is to prevent direct contact between the elastic strip 2O and the major portion of the foot surface covered thereby, so that the elastic material of' the strip does not exert an uncomfortable heating or drawing action on the toot.

I olairn: r

l. An arch sup-port comprising a flexible pad Jformed to cover the bottom oi. that portion of a toot Which includes the anterior and posterior arches, a forward cushion in the forward portion of the pad formed and arranged to support. the anterior arch, and a rea-r cushion in the rear portion of the pad 'formed and arranged to support the posterior arch, the pad being provided with tWo upturned flexible ears and an adjustable connection between said ears, and adapted to extend across and hug the instep portion of the foot, one of said cars being adapted to bear on the inner side ot that portion of the foot which includesI the iuside longitudinal arch, while the other ear is adapted to bear on the outer side oi' said portion, the arrangement being such that the said cushions are held by the contraction ot the pad on the toot in predeterinined positions, under said anterior and posterior arches 2. An arch support substantially as specified by claim l, said connection being an elasticstrip secured to said ears and adapted to contorni closely to the instep portion ot the toot, said strip beingr provided Wit-h an inelastic lining piece, interposed. between the strip and the instep portion of the foot, and secured by stitches at its inidlength portion to the inidlength portion of' the strip, so that the lining piece has free end portions adapted to bear on the wearers stocking Without affecting the elasticity of the strip, the lining piece having a smooth. antitrictional inner surface.

3. An arch support substantially as speciiied by claiin l, said pad being provided with pockets in which said cushions are adjustable for corrective purposes.

In testimony whereof I have afiixcd my signature.

JOHN D. PALM. 

